Cleaning the cement areas around your home is a quick and cost-effective way to make your home’s exterior look much nicer. Power washing is an easy, time-saving way to clean cement, and is a project you can complete yourself. Power washing can degrade the surface of your concrete, however, so you want to be careful to do it properly, so you don’t cause irreversible damage to your home.

There are generally three areas that you’ll want to address; cement patios around the house, your driveway or parking slab, and the sidewalks and curbs. You’ll want to make sure that you have a surface cleaner attachment for your pressure washer. Using the wand leaves streak marks, and makes progress very slow.

Always remember to follow manufacturer instructions for use of the pressure washer, and always wear protective gear to keep yourself safe.

To begin, gather the tools for your cleaning project.

You’ll need:

Pressure washer with a surface cleaner attachment

Safety glasses and earplugs

Degreaser

Pressure washing detergent

Push broom

Stiff-bristled scrub brush

Heavy work gloves

Garden hose

Water source

Once you’ve gathered your tools, you are ready to start your cleaning project. Here’s how to pressure wash your concrete in 4 easy steps:

  • Prep the area – clear the area and remove any furniture, grills, vehicles, stored items, etc from the area you are getting ready to clean. Sweep away any visible dirt or rocks, or use a blower to remove debris. Pull any weeds popping up through the cracks, and trim down any areas where foliage is touching the cement. If there are any areas where the concrete meets the side of the house, you may want to cover them with plastic to protect the finish on your siding.
  • Degrease – to loosen stains in the concrete, soak the area with a degreaser. Use a push broom to spread the solution around and help cleanse the surface of the cement. Scrub any areas that are especially dirty with a stiff-bristled brush.
  • Clean: connect your pressure washer and soap according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Working in sections, push the surface cleaner back and forth, slowly. Figure out which way the water runs in that area, and where it pools. Work from the top of the pitch down, so you never have dirty water running over sections that have already been cleaned. Allow the soap solution to stand for 10-15 minutes so it can penetrate the surface to remove grime and dirt. Re-wet if that area dries out, or still looks extremely dirty.
  • Rinse – after 15 minutes or so, switch the nozzle to the high-pressure tip, and set the machine to rinse mode. Again, working in small areas, down the pitch, rinse away excess detergent and any dirt and debris you find. Make sure to rinse thoroughly to get rid of all of the detergent. Whenever possible, try to use eco-friendly cleaners as they will be in the run off. Never, ever use harsh chemicals on your cement as they can cause permanent damage to the surface.

Once you have completed the cleaning, you may wish to apply a sealant to protect it until the next cleaning. After the area has completely dried, you can use a roller with an extension poll to apply a sealant to the surface of the cement. If you do apply a sealant, do not use the area for a full 24 hours after application

Keeping your patio, driveway, sidewalks and curbs clean and stain-free is an easy way to keep your home looking fresh and clean, and extend the life of your cement.